Anchor Retrieval System (ARS)

ABSTRACT

An improved anchor retrieving device is disclosed. The Anchor Retrieval System (ARS) of this invention has three major parts. One part, the slider, is slide-ably mounted on the anchor rode. Another part, the tether, attaches the slider to the crown end of the anchor during use. Another part, the retriever, is stored on the boat and put onto the anchor rode when needed. This invention encompasses a remotely releasable retriever and a slider that is easily and safely mounted on the anchor rode without having to be threaded on from an end of said rode.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improvement in or relatingto marine anchor retrieval devices to retrieve an anchor when it becomessnagged at the bottom of a body of water, for example, seized by rootsor ledges of rocks or submerged timbers or like, and particularly to animproved anchor retrieving device having an easily and safely mountableand dismountable slider portion and a remotely releasable retrieverportion allowing the retrieved anchor to be easily and safely hauled onboard the boat.

BACKGROUND

In order for a conventional boat anchor to perform an adequate boatanchoring function, the flukes of the anchor must dig into the earth.Frequently such operations result in an entanglement of one or more ofthe flukes with roots, rocks, debris, underwater cables, pipe lines andthe like making it impossible to release the anchor by conventionalmethods. In order to render an anchor releasable several methods havebeen employed in the past but each has undesirable features that greatlylimit their effectiveness.

One method commonly referred to as a trip line, employs an extra linewith one end secured to the crown of the anchor and the other endattached to a float. The anchor is released by picking up the float andpulling in the anchor by the float line. This requires that the float beattached and picked up each time the boat is anchored. This extra effortgenerally discourages the use of this method, especially since it cannotbe used in crowded conditions due to space limitations and the danger ofthe float being destroyed by boats in the area. It has also been thepractice to latch the flukes by a yieldable latch which is unlatched byan excessive tension on the anchor line. While such yieldable latchesmay render the anchor releasable from undesired entanglement, it islikely that undesired release of the anchor may occur when the pullingforce on the anchor line exceeds the bias of the yieldable latch and theanchor is rendered unusable until it is brought back onboard. Anothersystem employs a ring secured to the anchor line and slidably mounted onthe anchor shank. This arrangement may result in undesired release ofthe anchor due to a change in the direction of wind or tide which causesthe ring to slide to the crown of the anchor. Another method employs aline attaching the anchor rode to the crown of the anchor and areleasable link between the rode and the anchor shank. The anchor isreleased by disconnecting the rode from the shank thereby transferringthe pull to the crown via the line attaching the rode to the crown. Thismethod introduces a potential weak link in the anchor/rode connectionand renders the anchor unusable until it is brought back onboard.

Another method (U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,577 GENTRY, FR2,592,624 ABBADIE)overcoming many of the short comings of the afore mentioned systemsutilizes a slider positioned near the anchor and slidably mounted on theanchor rode, a tether connecting the slider to the trip point of theanchor and a retriever, with a retriever line attached, that isconnectible to the slider for retrieving a fouled marine anchor byplacing the retriever on the anchor rode, lowering it down via theretrieving line until it connects to the slider and then transferringthe pull to the trip point of the anchor by pulling up on the retrieverline thereby tripping out the anchor.

While overcoming many of the short comings of the other methods, themethod of Gentry and Abbadie (U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,577 GENTRY,FR2,592,624 ABBADIE) have distinct shortcomings. One shortcominginvolves the method of placing the slider on the anchor rode. In orderto get the slider on the anchor rode, it must be either threaded on fromthe end distant the anchor or the anchor line must be parted ordisconnected from the anchor before the slider can be put on the anchorrode. This becomes a distinct disadvantage and inconvenience if, forinstance, the boater doesn't want to leave the slider on the anchor rodeat all times but rather only wants to use it occasionally. An anchorrode can be many hundreds of feet long and threading from the enddistant the anchor can be laborious and time consuming. Parting the rodeor disconnecting the rode from the anchor can also be laborious and timeconsuming. Great pains are taken to make the rode and the anchor-rodeconnection strong and secure and great care has to be taken when therode is parted then re-connected or the anchor disconnected thenre-connected. If care is not taken through inattention or haste, thesafety of the boat and crew can be put at risk. Another short coming isthe need to manually remove the retriever from the rode before aretrieved anchor can be brought onboard in the usual fashion over thebow roller. Due to the bulk and complexity of the retriever, it may noteasily pass through the bow roller. In ideal conditions, it may benothing more than an inconvenience to have to lean over the bow of theboat and remove the retriever before bringing the anchor onboard butconditions are rarely ideal. It is not uncommon to need to retrieve afouled anchor in bad weather or in a crowded anchorage or with aninexperienced crew or with no crew or in some combination of theseconditions. Any of these conditions can create a situation that putsboth crew and the boat in danger. If there is any kind of wave action,trying to manually disengage the retriever from the anchor rode whilethe anchor is swinging at the bow of the boat can be very dangerous. Ina crowded anchorage, having to dedicate a crew member to manuallydisengage the retriever means one less crew member to attend to the manypotential hazards presented when leaving a crowded anchorage. If thecrew is inexperienced or if the boat is being handled solo, thesedangers are greatly increased. Leaving the anchor hanging at the bowuntil it is safe and convenient to disengage the retriever and bring theanchor onboard is also a dangerous option. Depending on conditions, theanchor can do serious damage to the bow of the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention therefore is to provide an improvedanchor retrieval system that is provided with a slider that can beeasily and safely installed on an anchor rode and a retriever that canbe remotely disengaged from the anchor rode thereby allowing a retrievedanchor to be safely and easily brought onboard.

To this end, a slider according to the present invention can be easilyand safely placed onto an anchor rode without the inconvenience, laborand risk involved in threading it on from the end of the rode distantthe anchor or parting the anchor rode or disconnecting the anchor fromthe rode and a retriever according to the present invention can, bymeans of a remotely releasable latch, be disengaged from the anchor rodeby contact with the bow roller or by manipulation from a distance aswith a boat hook or an oar or pole like implement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the prior art anchor retrieval system attached to a fouledanchor and the basic steps in the anchor retrieval.

FIG. 2A depicts a remotely releasable retriever in an open position anda slider below said retriever.

FIG. 2B is the same retriever in the closed position.

FIG. 3A-C shows a remotely releasable retriever (open for clarity) witha slider A) below said retriever, B) moved into the catch position andC) moved up to the release position.

FIG. 4 shows a remotely releasable retriever with captured slider goingup against a bow roller prior to its release.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate remotely releasable retriever with a simpleremotely releasable latch and catch pin.

FIG. 6A shows an improved slider with the addition of a vertical slot.FIG. 6B shows the slider being put onto a chain. FIG. 6C shows how aslider with a slot can be immobilized on the rode with a frangible tieof some sort.

FIG. 7 shows a two part improved slider held together by a band and ashackle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of this description, ‘remotely releasable retriever’means a retriever releasable from the anchor rode by a means that allowsthe person effecting the release to be a distance greater than saidperson's arm's length from said retriever during the release.

The improved Anchor Retrieval System (ARS) of this invention has threemajor parts. One part, the improved slider, is slide-ably mounted on theanchor rode and is easily and safely mounted and dismounted from theanchor rode. Another part, the tether, attaches the slider to the crownend of the anchor during use. Another part, the remotely releasableretriever, is stored on the boat and put onto the anchor rode whenneeded and can be remotely released from the slider and anchor rode.

FIGS. 1A-B generally depict the prior art ARS. FIG. 1A depicts theanchor (1) of a boat fouled by an entanglement (9). Attached to theanchor, prior to the anchors deployment is the slider (3) and the tether(7), the tether is secured to the slider by a loop and fastener, and theopposing end of the tether which also has a loop is secured to theanchor at is crown end (8). The retriever (4) is shown being deployedalong the anchor rode (6). The rode is connected to the shank end of theanchor (2) by means of a shackle (24). Attached to the retriever is aretriever line (5).

FIG. 1B depicts the retriever fully deployed and having captured theslider. FIG. 1C depicts the relationship as the boat changes itsposition and travels directly over the anchor. The tension istransferred to the retriever line, as shown in FIG. 1C, wherein it isable to further transfer an upward force to the crown end of the anchor,shown in FIG. 1D thereby releasing it from the entanglement. Upon beingreleased the anchor may be retrieved in a normal manner as shown in FIG.1E.

The present invention will now be described in detail by referring topreferred embodiments thereof.

When an anchor fitted with the improved ARS of the present inventionbecomes ensnared and cannot be pulled up by the rode, the remotelyreleasable retriever is placed on the anchor rode with a retrieving lineattached and is slid down the rode until it engages and captures theslider. After releasing tension on the anchor rode, the remotelyreleasable retriever/slider pair is pulled up using the retriever line.As the remotely releasable retriever/slider is raised, it slides alongthe anchor rode and, via the tether, starts to pull on the crown end ofthe anchor. As the remotely releasable retriever/slider is pulledfurther, all upward pull is transferred to the crown end via the tetherand the anchor is released from the fouling element. Once the anchor isfreed, it can be hauled up using the remotely releasable retriever lineor the anchor rode can be used to haul the anchor up and the retrieverline can be slackened.

In the preferred embodiment, when the remotely releasable retriever andretrieved anchor get to the surface the remotely releasable retrievercan be easily released from the slider and the anchor rode by either adownward pressure applied to the top of the retriever with a boathook oroar or other suitable means or by contact with the bow roller on theboat at which point it will automatically unlatch and fall free of theanchor rode. The slider and anchor can then go through the roller asusual without the need for someone to lean over the edge of the boat andmanually remove the retriever.

FIG. 2A depicts the preferred embodiment of a remotely releasableretriever in an open position and slider (3), below the retriever. Saidretriever consisting of retriever block A (10) and retriever block B(11). Retriever block A and retriever block B are held together by theuse of a hinge (18). The retriever blocks when closed have a centralhole (42) of sufficient diameter to allow the slider to pass through.Retriever block A has plate A (15) centrally located opposite the hinge(18) with a vertical opening (19) of sufficient size to allow the tongue(33) of pivotable latch (16) to enter. The pivotable latch is held toretriever block A with a securing screw (17). Said pivotable latch isheld in the closed position by the latch tensioning device (14). Theretriever block B (11) has plate B (12) attached opposite the hinge andalso contains a vertical opening (20) of sufficient size to allow thepivotable latch tongue (33) to enter. Said plate A is recessed intoretriever block A to allow plate B to be in front of plate A when theretriever blocks are closed. When retriever block A and retriever blockB are closed the vertical opening in plate A is in alignment with thevertical opening in plate B.

A recessed pocket (21) contains a lever (13) and a securing screw (40),said recessed pocket of sufficient depth to allow retriever block A andretriever block B to be closed and not interfere with the movement ofthe lever. The lever is positioned in the pocket such that it is allowedto pivot in the upward direction but limited in its ability to pivot ina downward direction.

The slider is of the same approximate height of the retriever blocks andof sufficient outer diameter to pass into the opening caused when theretriever blocks are closed. The inner diameter of the slider is such asto allow the passage of said anchor rode. The slider has acircumferential grove (22) of sufficient depth to allow said lever torecesses itself in said circumferential grove when the slider is passedthrough the closed retriever blocks.

FIG. 2B depicts the retriever in a closed position with plate Boverlapping plate A such that the vertical slot in plate A is alignedwith the vertical slot in plate B and the tongue is allowed to protrudethrough the said slots.

FIGS. 3A-C show the retriever in an open position for clarity. FIG. 3Ashows the slider (3) entering the central hole of the retriever andpivoting lever (13) in an upward direction. FIG. 3B shows the slider (3)in the captured position and unable to move downward. FIG. 3C shows theslider moved further into the retriever and pivoting pivotable latch(16) into the unlatched position, allowing retriever block A (10) andretriever block B (11) to separate.

FIG. 4 shows the anchor retrieval system in a position where it is aboutto release the retriever block (43). As the anchor rode (6) is upwardlyadvanced passing over the top of the bow roller (23) the retriever blockeventually reached the bow roller where it may no longer advance. Therode continues to travel upwards taking the slider with it. The upwardmovement of the slider causes the pivotable latch to pivot in a manneras shown in FIG. 3C.

In an alternative embodiment, the remotely releasable retriever isreleased from the slider and anchor rode by simply pulling a latchingpin that has been configured to be engaged by a boat hook or similardevice.

FIG. 5A shows an alternative embodiment of the retriever wherein plate A(15), plate B (12) and the pivotable latch as depicted in FIG. 2A arereplaced by latch piece left (30) and latch piece right (28). Latchpiece left is fashioned in a way to have a plurality of perpendicularmember with a through holes (31). Latch piece right is designed to havea singular or a plurality of perpendicular member with a through hole(29). When the retriever is in the closed position the perpendicularmembers of the right latch piece are allowed to fit between theperpendicular members of the left latch piece. The through holes alignand a removable securing pin (32) is used to hold retriever block A (10)and retriever block B (11) together as shown in FIG. 5B.

When a slider of the improved ARS of the present invention has to beinstalled or removed from the anchor rode this can be easily and safelyaccomplished without the need to thread the improved slider on from oneend of the anchor rode or part the rode.

FIG. 6A depicts a preferred embodiment of the slider wherein alongitudinal segment (41) of sufficient width to allow the passage of ananchor chain is removed from the slider (26). FIG. 6B shows the mannerin which the chain (6) is threaded through the slider. The slider isaffixed to the chain by means of a frangible tie (27) which passesthrough two holes on the slider and through the chain as shown in FIG.6C.

FIG. 7A shows an alternative embodiment of the slider wherein it is madein two interlocking parts, of interlocking part A (34) and ofinterlocking part B (35). Band (36) is an integral part of interlockingpart B. Said band is sized to provide a snug fit around interlockingpart A when interlocking part A is slid into position such that thealignment hole (38) in interlocking part B lines up with and is outsideof alignment hole (37) in interlocking part A. FIG. 7B showsinterlocking parts A and B mated around chain (6) with shackle (39)locking said interlocking part A and said interlocking part B together.

1. An improved anchor retrieving device for retrieving an anchor having a crown end and a shank end and an anchor rode attached to said shank end and secured to the boat, said device comprising a slider element slidably mounted on said anchor rode adjacent said shank end, a tether element interconnecting said slider and said crown end for imparting a releasing force thereto, a retriever element slidable along said anchor rode for engaging said slider and a retrieving line attached to said retriever, the improvement comprising a remotely releasable retriever element that is remotely releasable from the anchor rode.
 2. An improved anchor retrieving device according to claim 1 wherein the remotely releasable retriever element is released by contact with the bow roller.
 3. An improved anchor retrieving device according to claim 1 wherein the remotely releasable retriever element is releasable by a downward pressure to the top surface of said retriever element.
 4. An improved anchor retrieving device according to claim 1 wherein the remotely releasable retriever element is secured in the closed position by a locking pin.
 5. The anchor retrieving device according to claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises a slider element that is mountable on said anchor rode without having to be threaded on from an end of said anchor rode.
 6. An improved anchor retrieving device according to claim 5 wherein the slider element has a vertical slit of sufficient width to allow said slider element to be slidably mounted onto said anchor rode without having to be threaded on from an end of said anchor rode.
 7. An improved anchor retrieving device according to claim 5 wherein the slider element is comprised of two pieces connected by a hinge.
 8. An improved anchor retrieving device according to claim 5 wherein the slider element is comprised of at least two interlocking pieces. 